Don't spoil things for the bowlers

SIR - I am a bowler who uses and visits Lister Park to play against the resident teams.

If the extra parking places were removed, as has been suggested (T&A, January 17), then the parking area would become full and thereby unusable by the visiting bowlers who now use the area next to the bowling pavilion.

As for the intimidation, those of us who bowl in the evening do so at the risk of being jeered at and insulted by an unruly few.

I attended a major bowling competition last year and couldn't help but notice that youths were on one of the greens before the last bowl of the competition had been bowled.

The yobs definitely need sorting out but please, not at the expense of the bowlers' convenience.

Eddie Pells, Leaventhorpe Avenue, Fairweather Green, Bradford.

A key feature

SIR - The models of the new secondary schools (T&A, January 13) can't show enough to prove that they will produce very little carbon with most of their energy from photovoltaic roofs and walls, energy-efficient design, wind turbines and ground heat.

The report made no mention of this important issue and the companies involved aren't well known for this approach.

However, Tong seems to have a couple of little wind turbines and it will need them as the head teacher is going to ensure that the building is well lit. I would also have expected some on the Buttershaw site as at over 900ft above sea level it is the windiest school site in the country.

Not only should such features and examples be a key feature of the education of future generations but they will also reduce running costs and the nation's climate-change gas emissions at the same time.

Keith Thomson, Heights Lane, Bradford.

Rude awakening

SIR - Regarding North of Watford (T&A, January 7) New Labour have lifted the largest employers in Britain out of the doldrums into something that is envied around the world, saving thousands of lives each and every week.

The NHS has not got itself into a parlous state, it is the John Radcliffe Hospital, plus around another dozen or so hospitals who applied for trust foundation status.

They have all had a rude awakening. Running your own business is not as easy as it sounds, believe me I know.

But they are not going to be left in the lurch. The Government's experts will step in to offer help and advice, but it cannot be a cash cow.

A couple of years ago, Bradford Teaching hospitals were around £11 million in the red, now they are almost breaking even, without disrupting patient care, and I am sure the patients in the Radcliffe will be found treatment.

Surely the choice of four hospitals is a good thing, isn't it?

Stop your scaremongering. You're doing people with heart complaints no good at all!

Geoff Tasker, Park Road, Low Moor.

Light rail no threat

SIR - Martin Spicer is correct to highlight the limitations of Bradford's rail services in terms of poor direct services to other regions (T&A, January 17).

It is reassuring that Mr Spencer realises the importance of a cross-rail link for Bradford as it would enable continuous journeys from the north of the city to the south via the city centre.

Bradford Rail Users Group has been actively campaigning for such a link, but when built the Broadway development will obstruct an alignment between the two separate rail networks and regrettably the possibilities of a cross-rail link will be lost for some time.

A light-rail scheme would not threaten services to and from Bradford as suggested by Mr Spicer but would complement traditional rail.

Light rail is more suitable for penetrating congested corridors in areas not served by traditional rail, such as the hospital routes in Bradford, and even when sharing pathways is more flexible for accommodating intermediary stops.

In the short-to-medium term a light-rail link connecting the two separate networks is an achievable endeavour, with possible track sharing which would allow through journeys from, for example, Shipley to Halifax.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Bradford.

The great escape

SIR - If John Prescott, the man responsible for council tax, cannot pay his tax, then how does he expect the low-paid and pensioners to pay theirs?

A vicar and a lady were sent to prison for not paying their council tax, but he gets away with just saying sorry, it was all a mistake.

I for one do not believe him, because if we forget to pay we get a reminder. They wouldn't let us go seven years without paying.

N Brown, Peterborough Place, Undercliffe.